Stretcher



June 1944- J. R. SMITH. JR., ETAL 2,350,

STRETCHER Filed June'12, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Smaentor J. R. SMITH, JR. AND F. DE. LA ROSA June 1 J. R. SMITH, JR., ET AL 2,

STRE'I'OHER Filed June 12, 1942 :s Shets-Sheet a as v Y I" I I Snnentor d. R. SMITH, JR. AND F. DE LA ROSA qttomeg Patented June 6, 1944 STRETCHER John Rudolph Smith, Jr., Haddonfield, N. J., and

Frank De la Rosa, Philadelphia, Pa., assignors to A. Smith & Son, Incorporated, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania 7 Application June 12, 1942, Serial No. 446,712

5 Claims.

This invention relates to stretchers or carriers for use in transporting patients, or wounded, fractured, or other disabled persons.

' An object of the invention is to provide an improved stretcher consisting of a body formed of canvas or other suitable fabric which is braced by a plurality of longitudinally extending slats constructed and so arranged therein that the ers are arranged in longitudinal pockets formed in the body of the stretcher.

With the foregoing and other objects and advantages in view, the invention consists in the preferred construction and arrangement of the several parts which will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

- In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a bottom plan view of a stretcher constructed-"according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. '3 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the parts shown I "in Fig. 3 in folded position;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. '7 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 'I-I of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 8 is a view of the stretcher folded. Referring to the drawings, the main body of the stretcher consists of a rectangular piece of canvas or other suitable fabric II, which forms the upper face of th stretcher when the device is laid upon the ground, floor or other supporting means to receive the body of a person.

Forming the other side or bottom of the stretcher are two pieces of fabric I2 and I3.

The pieces I2 and I3 are assembled upon the single piece of fabric II in the manner shown in Fig. 1 so that the edges of the pieces I2 and I3 at the transverse center of the device are spaced 2. suitable distance apart (see Fig. 6).

Preferably all pieces of fabric used in the construction of the improved stretcher are formed from heavy tightly woven canvas of good quality and possessing considerablestrength.

The three pieces of fabric II, l2 and I3 are stitched together around the periphery of the device by stitches, indicated at I4, Fig. 1.

A handle I 5 is secured to each corner, whereby the stretcher and its occupant can be conveniently carried. The handles may be formed of any suitable material, arranged in U-shape and having their free ends riveted or otherwise secured to the body of the stretcher, as indicated at l6, Fig. 1.

A suitable number of straps are secured to one longitudinal edge of the stretcher, and a corresponding number ofbuckles I8 are secured to the other longitudinal edge of the stretcher. These straps I! and their'buckles l8 may be used for the purpose of fastening a person in position on the device.

Extending transversely across the two pieces II and I2 and arranged a suitable distance from the end of the stretcher, is a row of stitches I9.

Also extending transversely across the two pieces II and I3 and arranged a suitable distance from the other end of the stretcher, is a row of stitches 20, similar to the stitches I9.

Formed longitudinally in the body of the device and extending from a point adjacent to the transverse row of stitches I9 at one end, to a point adjacent to the transverse row of stitches 20 at the other end, is a series of stitches 2| which are connected at their ends, in the manner shown in Fig. 1, by transverse rows of stitches 22 and 23.

The stitches 2t, 22 and 23 are so arranged that a series of pockets 24 are formed longitudinally in the section of the device composed of the pieces II and I2, and a second series of pockets 25 are formed longitudinally in the section of the device composed of the pieces II and I3, said pockets 24 being arranged in alinement with the pockets 25, respectively. 7

Since the adjoining transverse edges of the pieces I2 and I3 are spaced apart a suitable distance, between and at each side of the pockets 24, 25 the edge portionsof the pieces I2 and I3 are secured to the piece II, by transverse rows of stitches 26, 21, respectively, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5.

Supported by the inner face of the piece I I and having a width greater than the distance or space between the adjacent transverse edge portions of the two pieces I2 and I3, is a transverse strip of fabric 28. This piece of fabric 28 is secured to the pieces I I, I2 and I3, bystitches 40 and 4|,

.as shown in Fig. 3. The purpose of the fabric tucked in between the two-folded portions.

pockets 24, 25, respectively. Each slat preferably consists of two pieces 29, 30, the pieces 29 being disposed in the pockets 24, and the pieces 30 being disposed in the pockets 25, respectively.

The slats are preferably constructed of strongpieces of wood having rounded longitudinal edges 3 I, as shown in Fig. 2, on their upperedges.

The abutting or adjacent ends of each alined pair of slats 29, 30, are pivotally connected together by means of a hinge 32, arranged in the -manner shown best in Figs. 3 and 6.

The hems at theinner transverse edges of the pieces [2, l3 are preferably secured by means of the rows of stitches 36, 31, respectively.

The slats'function as means for stiffening the device in a longitudinal direction, and since the ends of said slatsterminate at a distance from the ends of the device, at one end there is provided a flexible headpiece 38 and at the other -end there isa-flexiblefoot piece 39.

, Since the several pockets 24, 25 are many" connected by the intermediate plies of fabric, ,the .bodyof the stretcher may be flexed in a transverse direction. In this way a bed or support, is provided on, which a person may be prop- :erly sustained or carried ;When not ,in use, the stretcher may be folded compactly, as shown in Fig. 8, so as to occupy a very small space. For example, astretcher constructed accordingto the present invention whenopen, as shown in Fig. 1, may be six feet six inches in length and twenty-eight inches in width. When folded, as shown in Fig. 8, the same stretcher is only thirty inches long and eight inches in width.

In order to. fold the stretcher, the device is lflrst placed upon a support with the hinged side --of the slats, or theb'ottom side of the device shown intFig. 1, up. The two end sections 38 and 39 -"are :first folded inwardlyalong the lines of the .stitches 22 and 23, respectively. The device is then .folded along the pivot line of the hinges 32 .so'th'at one half lies upon the other half, as

:shbwn fragmentarily in Fig. 4. The buckles I8 and the centrally disposed strap I! may next be r The device is then rolled or folded into the form shown in Fig. 8, and the two end straps I! wrapped around the bundle and tied so as to securely fastenthe bundle in the manner clearly shown in Fig. 8. Due to the disposition ofthe handles [5,

,when the stretcher is folded'into a bundle in the -manner'descri-bed, two of the handles will be conveniently disposed, as shown in Fig. 8, for carrying the device, or if desired the bundle may '-be easily carried by encircling the same with an arm of the person.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is:

1. A foldable stretcher comprising, an elongated substantially rectangular body, said body formed on one side of a single piece of flexible material, the other side of the body being formed of two sections offlexible material, eachsaid sectionhav'ing its transverse inner edge portion spaced a suitable distance with respect to the transverse mid point of the single piece of material so as to provide a gap arranged crosswise of the stretcher on one side thereof between the two sections of material, a series of alined pockets formed longitudinally in said body by stitching the single piece of flexible material longitudinally on one side with the two sections of flexible material on the other side, said pockets terminating at points spaced a suitable distance from the ends tions of flexible material, said body being constructed and arranged to be folded transversely upon itself along the fold line of the hinges to reduce the length thereof by at least one half.

7 2. A foldable stretcher comprising, an elongated substantially rectangular body, said body being formed with atop side of a single piece of flexible material, the bottom side of said body being formed of two sections of flexible material,

1 each said section having its transverse inner edge portion spaced a suitable distance from the trans- ;verse center of the main piece of material so as to provide a gap arranged crosswise of the stretcher on the bottom side thereof, a series of v alined pockets formedlongitudinally in said body by stitching the single piece of flexible material longitudinally on one side with the two sections offlexible material on the other side, said pockets terminating at points .spacedasuitable distance from the ends of the body, said alined pockets being arranged in suitablespaced end to end relationship to each other, the pair of alined pockets adjacent to each longitudinal side of the device being spaced suitable distances inwardly from the sides of the device, a slat mounted in .each pocket for stiffening the material, said slats being constructed andarranged in alined relationship in alined pockets with the adjacent ends of each alined pair of slats disposed substantially at the mid point-of the body of the device, and a hinge pivotally connecting the adjacent abut- .ting ends of each pair of alined slats, said hinges being exposed through the gap between the two bottom sections of the body whereby said body can be folded transversely upon itself to reduce its length by half, said folded body being adapted to be formed into'aicompact bundle by folding the same lengthwise.

'3. A stretcher for transporting injured and disabled persons, includingv a'substantially elongated rectangular bo'dy, said body formed on one side 'of a single piece of flexible material, the other side'of'the body being formed of two sections of flexible material, each said section having its "transvers'einner edge portion spaced a "tud-inally in said body by stitching the single piece of flexible material longitudinally on one side with the two sections of flexible material on the other'side, said pockets being arranged in parallel spaced relationshipan'd having webs of the "fabric mate-rial therebetween, said pockets terminating at one end at points spaced a suitable distance from the ends of the body and being closed at such ends, said pockets terminating at the other end at points spaced from the mid point of the body and being open at such mid point ends, the pair of alined pockets adjacent to each longitudinal side of the body being spaced suitable distances inwardly from the sides, a slat mounted in each alined pocket and freely movable lengthwise thereof, said slats being disposed in alined relationship in alined pockets with the adjacent ends of the slats exposed through the gap between the two sections of material on one side of the device, and a hinge pivotally connecting the adjacent exposed ends of each pair of alined slats whereby said body is adapted to be folded transversely upon itself to reduce its length by half, said slats being constructed and arranged to move within the pockets when the stretcher is being folded and unfolded, the folded body being adapted to be rolled into a compact bundle having a length less than one half the length of the stretcher when the same is unfolded.

4. A foldable stretcher comprising an elongated substantially rectangular body, said body being formed with a top side of a single piece of flexible material, the bottom side of said body being formed of two sections of flexible material, each said section having its transverse inner edge portion spaced a suitable distance from the transverse center of the main piece of material so as to provide a gap arranged crosswise of the stretcher on the bottom side thereof, a series of alined pockets formed longitudinally in said body by stitching the single piece of flexible material longitudinally on one side with the two sections of flexible material on the other side, said pockets terminating at one end at points spaced a suitable distance from the ends of the body, said pockets terminating at the other end at the inner edge portions of said two sections of flexible material said alined pockets being arranged in suitable spaced end to end relationship to each other, the pair of alined pockets adjacent to each longitudinal side of the device being spaced suitable distances inwardly from the sides of the device, a slat mounted in each pocket for stiffening the material, each slat having rounded longitudinal bottom edges and a substantially flat upper surface, the inner end portion of which is exposed through the gaps in the alined pockets at the mid point of the stretcher, said slats being constructed and arranged in alined relationship in alined pockets with the adjacent ends of each alined pair of slats disposed substantially at the mid point of the body of the device, and a hinge mounted on the flat exposed portions of each alined pair of slats for pivotally connecting the adjacent abutting ends of each pair of alined slats, said hinges being exposed through the gap between the two bottom sections of the body whereby the stretcher can be folded transversely upon itself to reduce its length by half, the folded body being adapted to be rolled lengthwise into a compact bundle.

5. A stretcher of the character described comprising a body formed with a top side of a single piece of flexible material, the bottom side of said body being formed of two sections of flexible material, each said section having its transverse inner edge portion spaced a suitable distance from the transverse center of the main piece of material so as to provide a gap arranged crosswise of the stretcher on the bottom side thereof, a series of alined pockets formed longitudinally in said body by stitching the single piece of flexible material longitudinally on one side with the two sections of flexibl material on the other side, said pockets being spaced apart and having webs of the fabric material therebetween, said pockets terminating at one end at points spaced from the ends of the body and being closed at such ends, said pockets terminating at the other end along the transverse inner edge portions of the two sections of flexible material and being open at such inner ends, a stiffener mounted in each alined pocket and freely movable therein, each pair of alined stiffeners having abutting adjacent inner ends, said stifieners terminating at points spaced from the ends'of the stretcher so as to leave unstifiened portions of fabric at each end of the stretcher, and a hinge mounted on the adjacent inner end of each alined pair of stiffeners for pivotally connecting the stiffeners together, said hinges being arranged substantially at the transverse mid point of the stretcher, whereby the stretcher can be folded transversely upon itself.

JOHN RUDOLPH SMITH, JR. FRANK DE LA ROSA. 

